TBILISI, Georgia -- Anti-government protests in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi went into a fourth day Monday calling for elections as scheduled and a new president.

The root of the opposition's calls is President Mikhail Saakashvili's decision to move scheduled elections next April forward to the autumn, the Russian Novosti news agency reported.

As many as 100,000 people marched in the capital Friday night, followed by large, but smaller demonstrations throughout the weekend, reports said.

Saakashvili, who came to power in the so-called Rose Revolution in 2003, said in a television appearance Sunday night he moved the election date to save money.

However, the news agency noted he has said should the independence of Serbia's breakaway region of Kosovo be recognized in the spring, that would give Russia leverage in recognizing two pro-Moscow regions in Georgia -- Abkhazia and South Ossetia -- seeking independence.